Session 9 - Integral Education

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The question of whether or not we have any free choice in our actions is a very important one. Indeed, we see that we don't really have free choice because thus far we've been developing through inner drives—the genes we are born with—and the external environment—parents, kindergarten, school—that shape us. As an adult, we certainly think we choose how we change, but the realization of the change will actually always take place through the environment, through a more or less selective choice of being under this or that environment. So we do have free choice, but it is actualized only through the environment.

In relation to the new generation, the new era that we are in, there is an even more important conclusion. We are discovering that we are closely tied to one another around the world, and we are thus, interdependent. The global environment has become far more uniform. As we carry our daily activities, we have an affect on things like the weather, and if something happens in one place, it could set off an earthquake and/or tsunami elsewhere, and if a war breaks out in one place, it immediately affects other places, as well.

We can see that the world situation has evolved, and we no longer need to simply place ourselves within this or that society, within this or that circle. Rather, we need to now make a further step and set up the general, global, integral education for everyone. Since we are all tied together, we need our educational systems and our environments—which act as root causes—to also affect the same good values upon all of us, so that we may better understand one another and connect more closely to one another. While we do need to maintain the individual and his/her personal freedom, in the end, because we are so interdependent, we need to understand and feel this interdependence with each other, to be closer to each other.

Our entire problem is that we simply don't understand one another. It is just as in a family where complaints are always heard, such as, "He doesn't understand me,"and "She doesn't know how I feel." This happens because of an incongruence that exists between people, and because we didn't receive an integral education that provides us with attitudes, insights,and an outlook on life to put efforts into first understanding the other person, even if s/he is a stranger. That, too, requires education so the stranger, the other, will not be so alien.

Thus now, since we are so close and more and more interdependent in every societal system—culture, education, economy—we need to develop the global and international education necessary to impart the needed attitudes, insights, and outlook on life. There needs to be an international organization making sure that every person in the world deeply understands that s/he has something very importantly in common with others—and this must be grasped in one's perspective, in culture, in education, and in one's approach to life, even in every thought and action. It is in this way that people will come to learn in order to know how to accept others and will eventually grow more like-minded, while seeing and developing similar affinities. Then we will be able to make our lives more safe through reaching agreements, and we will not only agree and understand each other, but there will also be agreements that reflect on the international scope concerning all people everywhere, and they will be critical, mutual agreements that impact politics, economy, the arms race—anything and everything. We will all simply be closer to each other, and this all depends on the way in which we setup an effectively uniform framework of education that will reach all of us.

Engage Yourself

"Ultimately, whether we like it or not, we are all parts of one inseparable web of relationships."

This sentence ends the following short scene below, from the movie "Mindwalk". Watch this scene before starting to perform the tasks of the lesson. [link to clip here, if needed]

If you haven't already seen the full "Mindwalk" movie, we recommend that you carve out some time to view it. (It can be found on YouTube.) For now, what are your thoughts about this clip?

Question 2: In this study session, there is an expansion and elaboration of why we should develop a global (general) and integral (interconnected) education system.

a. Write what convinced you the most that we should develop such a broad integral education, one in which we will all learn about the interdependence and connection between people? What will we all gain through this? (If you were not convinced, skip this question and fill in the text box for b. below)

b. If the explanation did not convince you, write your reason/s why and what you thinkshould be added to the explanation, if anything.

Question 3: According to the transcript text of this lesson, how can humanity's suffering be avoided?

By consideration toward others and helping others whenever possible.

Humanity is not suffering; suffering is only for those who suffer.

It will pass by itself.

Through education that will create a common denominator and closeness among all people.

Question 4:

a. How do you feel about what was said in the previous study section, that a person has freedom of choice?

b. What thoughts does the following sentence evoke in you concerning what a person's free choice actually is?

"As an adult, we certainly think we choose how we change, but the realization of the change will actually always take place through the environment, through a more or less selective choice of being under this or that environment. So we do have free choice, but it is actualized only through the environment."

Even more questions come up in my about how to make this choice correctly.

I feel responsible for my life, for the changes I will undergo.

I think about how I can exercise my free choice in my personal life.

I'm curious and I want to learn about the issue of the influence of the environment on a person, so that I know what to choose to affect me.

I’m afraid, since suddenly I begin to feel that I depend on the environment, and this is a strange and new feeling for me.

Other.

If you selected "Other," please specify below:

Question 5: What is the purpose of global education?

All of the above.

To bring about a better life

To learn how to behave in the new world.

To make people feel closer to each other and to understand each other.